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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2015)
SILETZ NEWS Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Brenda Bremner, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Vol. 43, No. 12 Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem, OR Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 December 2015 Photo by Diane Rodriquez Cindy Jackson, Gladys Bolton and Donna Woods lead the women’s traditional dancers during the Grand Entry at the Siletz Tribal Restoration Pow-Wow on Nov. 14 at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Ore. See additional photos from the day’s events on pages 9-12. National conference gathers Tribal Frank one of 17 people honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom leaders, president, administration WASHINGTON – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends President Obama for honor- ing the late Billy Frank Jr., member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, as one of 17 recipi- ents of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed upon individuals “who have made especially meritorious contribu- tions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” The award was presented to Frank’s family at the White House on Nov. 24. “Billy was a tireless advocate for the rights of Native Americans,” said Brian Cladoosby, president of NCAI and chair- man of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Com- munity. “Billy’s voice spoke for the salmon and the resources and most importantly for the children of our future so they may have the rights preserved for them more than a century ago.” Frank spent his life fighting for Tribes’ right to fish and protect their waters, and fiercely advocated for the complete fulfill- ment of treaty commitments by the federal government. He was arrested more than 50 times during the Fish Wars of the 1960s and 1970s, a struggle that culminated in the seminal U.S. v. Washington court case, in which Judge George Hugo Boldt found in favor of treaty fishing rights in 1974. The Boldt decision established treaty Indian Tribes as co-managers of the salmon resource and reaffirmed the Tribal right to half of the harvestable salmon. Frank served as chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) from its inception in 1974 until his passing last year. NWIFC was created to assist member Tribes in their role as natural resources co-managers following the Boldt decision. See Frank on page 4 WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, Tribal leaders from across the country and key federal officials gathered Nov. 5 for the Seventh Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference to discuss how they can continue to work together to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship between Tribal nations and the U.S. government and cement a legacy that empowers Indian Country’s future. Held at the Ronald Reagan Build- ing and International Trade Center, the conference kicked off with big news from athletic shoe and apparel maker Adidas, who announced an initiative to help high schools nationwide drop their American Indian-themed mascots, nicknames, imag- ery or symbolism by providing logo and uniform redesign services and financial support to ensure that the cost of changing mascots is not prohibitive. Also unveiled was MTV’s powerful new video on Generation Indigenous, which featured First Lady Michelle Obama declaring to Native youth, “As you move forward, remember you are never alone.” The annual conference continued with rousing addresses by an impressive slate of Tribal leaders and federal officials, including: • • • • • • • Chairwoman Rosemary Morillo, Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president Secretary Sally Jewell, Department of the Interior Chairman Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Rory Taylor (Pawnee), Center for Native American Youth 2015 Cham- pion for Change Ambassador Keith Harper (Chero- kee), U.S. representative to the Human Rights Council Heather Higginbottom, deputy secre- tary, Department of State See National on page 4
